Cement-block rammer



March 6, 1928. 1,661,414

' H. E. DUNN CEMENT BLOCK HAMMER Filed July 12 1926 4 Sheet eet 1InueMov HuvraEDmm March 6, 1928.

H. E. DUNN CEMENT BLOCK HAMMER Filed July 12 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 0 Oo 65 O O 63 O O O 6.9 70 7/ '6 Y 1.? F 4 h Immnfg: F \g. 2' Han EDum;

B $631 {Mal/2L E ma;

March 6, 1928. 1,661,414

H. E. DUNN CEMENT BLOCK RAMMER Filed July 12 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. E.DUNN 02mm? BLOCK RAMMER March 6, 1928. 1,661,414

Filed July 12 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inuuflo i Hang. ELDumn Ba PatentedMar. 6, 1928.

HARRY E. DUNN, OF HOLLAND, MICHIGAN.

CEMENT-BLOCK HAMMER.

Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to a machine for ramming cement blocks. It hasfor its primary object and purpose the production of a machine in whichcementitious material may be rammed in a form so as to condense thematerial to proper density, the form being of the required shape toproduce a cement building block, though of course it is to be understoodthat the machine is capable of serving its functions whether ammingmaterial to produce a building block or other cementor concretestructure of desired form. A further object of the invention is toprovide a machine of this character in which the cemcntitious materialmay be continuously rammed until the form is filled after which theupper surface of the block may be properly smoothed by the machine andthereafter the entire ramming apparatus lifted out of the way,automatically stopped from operation and held in an elevated position soas to permit removal of the block formed from the form or mold, therelease and descent of the ramming apparatus to lower operative positionbeing accomplished by a very simple manual operation when it is desiredto make the succeeding block in the form. These and various otherobjects and purposes together with novel construction for attainment ofthe same will be apparent as an understanding of the invention is hadfrom the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine, the form used therewithbeing shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine between its ends.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken longitudinally of themachine at the upper part thereof and showing the ramming apparatus inupper inoperative position.

Fig. 4 a fragmentary end elevation of the upper portion of the machineillustrating the manually operable means for cansing the elevation ofthe ramming apparatus and the automatic stopping thereof when 1926.Serial No. 121,754.

it has attained a predetermined upper position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken at the upper part of themachine illustrating a detail of the mechanism which is operated to liftthe ramming apparatus.

Fig. (i is a side elevation of the mold or form used, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical -ection illustrating theeccentric mounting of one end of one of the shafts of the machine. whichmounting may be manually operated to cause the elevation of the rammingapparatus or to cause its release for moven'icnt to lower operativeposition.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figuresof the drawings.

Inthe construction of the machine, a supporting frame is provided forthe mechanism having two spaced apart base members 1 from which verticalends extend upwardly, each including a front post 2 and a rear post 3,the same being integrally connected at their upper ends by the bends 2.Between the lower base members 1 a cross connecting base channel 4 isdisposed. Near the upper end of the frame other cross members 5 and Gare located and secured, the former between the front posts 2 and thelatter between the rear posts 3'.

On the lower cross channel 4 which is of considerable width, the form ormold for making a building block is located. This mold includes a framehaving spaced apart sides 7, connected by cross bars 8, the sides attheir upper portions being formed with slotted horizontal members 9located back of the form or mold proper. The immediate form or mold inwhich the block is made includes a rear rigid vertical side 10, a bottom11 and a front side 12 pivot-ally mounted at its lower end on the rod 13and also suitably pivotally mounted ends, the front side 12 bein;equipped with an inner facing 12, as shown in Fig. 2, which liesdirectly over the bottom 11. Said front side 12 and the ends are adaptedto be releasably held in vertical position so as to close the form,suitable hooks 14 being provided with which latch bars. as shown in Fig.6, may engage to hold the same in operative position. lVhen a block isformed these ends and front side may be rel iased and turned outwardlyso as to free the block for removal from the form.

In the rear vertical side 10 of the form or mold. suitable openings aremade for the passage of a plurality of cores 15 which are connected to across head 16 slidably mounted atits ends in the longitudinal slots ofthe members 5), previously described. Links 17 are connected to the endsof the cross head 16 and at their opposite ends are connected to arms 18which, at their lower ends are secured to a rock shaft 19 mounted at thelower part of and between the sides 7 of the fame. An operatin; handleor lever 20 is connected to the shaft 19 and extends forwardly to thefront of the machine where it; may be readily reached and operated tomove all of the cores '-=inu1ltaneously into position in the form or.after a block has been completed, to move the cores rearwardly,withdrawing and disconnecting: the cores from the block.

A horizontal plate 21 is positioned at the upper rear portion of tieform and back of the rear side 10 thereof, on which a hopper member 22is slidably mounted. Said member at its front end is provided with anentrance hopper 23 having downwardly and inwardly inclined sides; and atthe front of the hopper member a horizontal shaft 24 is mounted on whicha plate 25, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured. This plate normally extendsforwardly and upwardly, arms 26 being secured at the ends of the shaft24 and acted upon by springs 27 to elevate the plate, to the positionshown in Fig. P n 28 projects laterally from the rear end of the hoppermember :22 engaging with which is the slotted upper end of a bar 29. thelower end of which is tired to a rock shaft 30 located in substantiallythe same horizontal plane with and a short distance back of the shaft19. Shaft 30 is also provided with an operating lever 31 which extendstoward the front of the machine so that it may be readi- 1y grasped tomove the hopper member back and forth. over the plate 531. In Fig. 2.said hopper member is shown with the hopper 23 directly over the openupper end of the form or mold proper but. with the ramming apparatushereafter described, elevated to an upper position, the hopper membermay be moved back so that the hopper 23 is located over the plate 21whereby cementitious material may be placed in said member and againstthe plate 21 so that on forward movement of the hopper to the positionshown in Fig. 2, the cementitious material will drop into the formproper having the bottom 11, sides 10 and 12 and ends as described.

Above the form or mold proper the ramming apparatus is mounted. In theconstruction of said ramming apparatus, a frame for carrying the same isprovided having a lower member 32 with upturned vertical ends 33 each ofwhich at its upper end is turned outward horizontally to make the arms34 and 34, at the ends of which grooved rollers 35 are mounted to bearagainst the square vertical guides 36 located between the front and rearposts 2 and 3 0f the end members of the main frame. Said guides 36 arepositioned so that inne corners of the same fit into the grooves of therollers 35. Additional arms 37 and 37- extend from the supporting frameadjacent the ends of the lower member which are likewise equipped withgrooved rollers 38, also traversing the guide rods A horizoi'ital shaft35) equipped. in its length with a plurality of spaced apart eccentri-cs40, is mounteijl between the spaced apart vertical sides 33 of the frameand rotatably mounted at their ends in bearings 41 carried by saidsides. Below each eccentric 40 a vertical ramming bar 42 is slidablymounted through the lower member 32 of the supporting frame for theramming apparatus, each of said bars at its lower end being equippedwith a ramming foot 43 and at its upper end with a head 44, there being:a strong coiled spring 45 il spo-eil around each of the bars between itshead it and the lower member 32 of the frame. It is evident that thenormal tendency of the springs is to elevate the bars with theirattached ramming feet 43. On the shaft 39 a pulley 4:6 is secured whichis driven by a belt 47 passing around the same and also around a drivepulley 48 on a drive shaft 1.) morn-ted back of the frame on brackets 50which are either cast integral with the frame or permanently securedthereto. The drive shaft it) equipped with a pulley .31 so that it maybe belt driven from any suitable source of power. An arm 52 is loose lymounted on the shaft 49 and at its free end carries a pulley 53 hearingagainst the upper side of the belt 4-.7 so as to keep the sam atrequisite tension at all times.

IVith cementitiousmaterial in the form. the tampingr feet 43 areperiodically forced downward by the rotation of the eccentrics 40 andtheir engagement against the heads 44, springs 45 lifting the rammingbars and feet attached thereto between the periods of downward movementof the same. The cementitious material in the form is rammed andcondensed under the lower ends of the tamping feet and as it becomesproperly rammed the entire ramming apparatus moves upwardly, being: freeto do so. Additional cementitious material may be added to the mold ifnecessary until it is completely tilled and the material properlyrammed. When this occurs the lower ends of the ramming feet 43-arelocated at or above the upper edges of the sides and ends of the moldand by means of mechanism, hereafter described, the entire rammingapparatus may be lifted so as to carry the ramming feet above the hopperwhich is then moved rearwardly. The lower edges of the hopper strike theupper side of the block fiat, any excess cementitious material beingcarried by the hopper back over the plate 22. Then when the hoppermember is in its rear position, as shown in Fig. 6, the ramming feet 43will be located above the plate 25. The ramming apparatus may bereleased so as to come down to a lower position in order that theramming feet may strike against said plate 25 thereby smoothing theupper surface of the block after which the ramming apparatus is elevated to an upper position where it is out of the way, stopped fromoperation and held in such elevated position during the time that theblock which has been made is being taken from the mold.

The construction by means of which the carriage and the rammingapparatus mounted thereon, is elevated so as to carry the lower ends ofthe ramming feet 43 above the upper side of the hopper, will now bedescribed. A. bracket 54 is rigidly attached to the lower member 32 ofthe carriage to which a vertically positioned rack bar is pivotallyconnected at its lower end being located directly over the center of thecarriage. A shaft 56 is mounted at the upper end of the machine, one endthereof passing through a bearing sleeve 57 which extends through thebend or curved portion 2. at the top of one end of the frame of themachine. The shaft 56 passes through said bearing off-center thereof sothat the bearing sleeve 57 in effect is an eccentric, rotation of whichwill change the position of the shaft 56 for purposes hereafterdescribed. 011 the shaft 56 a gear wheel 58 is secured meshing with therack The rack is held in engagement with the gear wheel by a groovedwheel 59 which is carried by link 60 mounted at one end on the shaft 56and at the other end attached to a bar 61 which is connected to thecross member 5 of the frame, as shown in Fig. 5. A brake wheel 62 isfixed to shaft 56 near which it passes through eccentric sleeve 57. Thiswheel in normal position is adapted to bear against a fixed brake 63located back of the wheel and carried in any suitable manner by theframe of the machine. In front of the brake wheel 62 a small drum Si ismounted upon a second shaft 65 which parallels the first shaft and ismounted in bearings 66 formed at the front ends of plates 67, best shownin Fig. 4, permanently secured to the upper ends of the end members ofthe frame of the machine. A drive wheel or pulley (38 is carried on thedrive shaft -19 and through an endless belt 69 which passes around itand a wheel 70 fixed on the shaft (3.), drives said shaft 65 and thedrum (34 continuously during all the time that the machine is inoperation. A bracket 71 is rigidly connected to the cross member 5 ofthe frame of the machine, as shown in Fig. l, and at its upper end isequipped with a half bearing 72 which engages against the front side ofshaft 65 closely adjacent the drum of to support and reinforce the shaft65 and hold it against springing when pressure is brought against thedrum (3i, as will hereafter appear.

A collar 73 is fixed to the outer end of the eccentric bearing sleeve57, said collar having one arm 74: extending upwardly and forwardly anda second arm 75 extending downwardly and forwardly. A bar 76 isconnected with the arm 74 and at its free end a depending rod 77,terminating in a hand hold, is pivotally connected so as to be graspedby the operator of the machine when it is desired to turn the bearingsleeve 57. A second bar 78, forwardly curved at its lower end, isadjustably secured to the arm 75 passing between two adjusting screws79, as shown in Fig. i. A third bar 80 is connected to the inner side ofthe arm 74 and is then bent to the rear and has a strong coiled spring81 secured thereto at its end, the opposite end of the spring beingattached to the adjacent part 3 of the frame of the machine. Brackets 82extend outwardly from the arms ill and 87 of the carriage supporting theramming mechanism to which a vertical bar 83 is permanently secured, itsupper end being formed with an outturned horizontal lip 83''.

\Vhen the hand hold at the lower end of the member 77 is grasped and adownward pull exerted thereon, it causes a rotation of the sleeve 57 anda movement of the bar 78 in a counter clockwise direction (referring toFig. at) a spring 81 yielding. The rotation of the sleeve 57 shifts theposition of shaft 56 and of the brake wheel (32 thereon, moving saidwheel forward so that it bears against the continuously rotating smalldrum (3i. Shaft 56 is thus rotated whereupon the gear wheel 58 rotatingwith the shaft elevates the rack bar 55, thus elevating the verticallymovable carriage and the ramming mechanism carried thereby. The carriagemay be elevated to any desired position and immediately upon release ofthe member 77 the spring 81 rotates the bar sleeve 57 back to its normalposition, bringing the brake wheel 6'2 into contact with the fixed brake63 whereby the ramming mechanism is retained in upper position andcannot drop by gravity to a lower position. If the operatorinadvertently does not release his hold on the member 77 the out turnedlip 83 of bar 83 comes against the curved lower edge of the bar 78 andautomatically turns the sleeve 57 back to its normal position andinsures that the carriage. carrying the ramming apparatus. will not beelevated too high so as to cause any damage to the machine. The rammingapparatus is held in upper position until the block has been removedfrom the form. lVhen it is desired to lower the ramming mechanism member77 is grasped and pulled downwardly so as to rotate the sleeve 57, butnot far enough to bring the brake wheel into contact with the drum 64.This releases the brake wheel from the brake and frees the carriage sothat it may drop to lower operative position.

lVhen the ramming apparatus is elevated to upper position, shaft 49being driven continuously and the shaft 39 being continuously drivenfrom said drive shaft, it is desirable that means be provided to stopthe operation of the rammers while they are not actually performingtheir ramming operation upon the cementitious mixture. have providedmeans for this which acts automatically when the carriage with theramming apparatus thereon, is elevated to a predetermined position,which will now be described.

Below the lower member 32 of the carriage two bars 84 preferably ofchannel form are mounted, one in front and the other back of the rods42, being spaced apart and equipped with rollers 85 adjacent each endthereof. Springs 86 connect the bars 84 with the lower member 32 of thecarriage and serve to raise said bars until stopped by their engagementagainst the under side of said member 32. At the under side of themember 32 and near each end thereof, downwardly extending cam membersare formed having inclines 87 located at an angle to the horizontal andboth extending in the same direction.

At. one end of the bars 84 and mounted on a pin 88 is a bell-crank leverhaving an arm 89 extending downwardly and outwardly and equipped at. itsouter end with a roller 90 which, as the carriage is elevated, comesinto engagement with the cam edge of a bracket 90 attached to theadjacent end of the main frame of the machine. The other arm 91 of thebell-crank lever extends upwardly alongside of the arm 37 of thecarriage, previously described, and bears at one side against a fulcrummember 92 adjustably mounted in a slot 93 in the arm 37.

As the carriage moves upwardly and roller 9O rides against the cam edgeof bracket 90*, the bell crank lever is turned about the fulcrum 92,this moving both bars 84 to the left from the position shown in Fig. lto that shown in Fig. 3, causing the rollers 85 to ride down theinclines 87 and thus move the bars downwardly whereupon they engageagainst the upper ends of the ram ming feet 43 holding all of the samein a position slightly lower than any position that they occupy when inactual operation so that all of the heads 44 are located so that therotation of the eccentrics 40 causes no contacts of said eccentrics withthe heads 44, the ramming members remaining stationary. The shaft 39 maycontinue to ro tate but there will be no operation of the rammingmembers until the ramming apparatus is lowered so as to disengage theroller 90 from the bracket 90 whereupon the springs 87 will elevate thebars 84 and again bring the heads 44 against their operating eccentrics40.

If desired, a shock absorbing check device may be used in connectionwith the ramming apparatus so that its dropping to lower operativeposition from an elevated position will not be detrimental to themachine in any manner from shock or jar produced. An arm 94 extendsrearwardly from the lower member of the carriage to which a piston rod95 is connected and extends upward into a cylinder 96 carried by themain frame of the machine and having a construction in connection with apiston at the upper end of the rod 95 for checking too rapid descent ofthe carriage and ramming apparatus located thereon. his addition to themechanism is not imperative but may be used, it being a well known typeof pneumatic check used in many relations for speed checking purposes.

The ramming machine described is practical and sure in its operation. iseasily controlled through the one operating member 77, while theoperation of the form and the hopper in connection therewith iscontrolled by the levers 20 and 31. The ramming feet 43 pass between thecores 15 and between said cores and the ends of the form so that thecementitious mixture is thoroughly rammed and condensed when the machineis operating. The automatic disconnection of certain parts of theramming mechanism when the same are not needed is a feature of utilityadding to the life of the machine. Many variations in minor detail ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the inventiondefined in the appended claims, and the invention is to be considered ascomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within the scope of saidclaims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame havingvertical spaced apart ends, a carriage mounted between the ends of saidframe and adapted to move up and down thereon, a plurality of ramminglit} elements mounted on said carriage, a shaft rotatably mounted on thecarriage having a plurality of eccentrics thereon, one for each rammingmember and bearing a ainst the upper end thereof, springs normalI ytending to lift the ramming members and force their upper ends againstsaid eccentrics, and means for driving said shaft.

2. In a machine of the class described, a support, a plurality oframming members mounted thereon for vertical reciprocatory movements, ashaft loc ated across and above the upper ends of said ramming members,a plurality of eccentrics on the shaft, one at the upper end of eachramming member, means for driving the shaft, and springs, one for eachramming member acting thereon to lift each ramming member so as to forcethe upper end thereof against its eccentric.

' 3. In a machine of the class described, a main frame having spacedapart vertical ends, each end being equipped with vertical guide bar, acarriage disposed between ends of the frame and having rollers at itsends engagingwith said guide bars, a horizontal shaft rotatably mountedon the carriage, a plurality of eccentrics on the shaft, means fordriving the shaft, a plurality of ramming elements mounted on saidcarriage below the shaft and vertically slidable thereon,

"one of said rammijng elements being located below each eccentric, andsprings, one for each ramming member, acting to move the same upwardlyso as to bring the upper ends thereof against their respectiveeccentrics.

4. In a machine of the class described, a main supportng frame havingvertical spaced apart ends, a carriage mounted between and movable onsaid ends of the machine to different vertical positions, rammingapparatus carriedby said carriage, means to operate said rammingapparatus, means for lifting the carriagewith the ramming apparatuscarried thereby to an upper position including a shaft, means to drivethe shaft, a brakewheel on said shaft, mechanism operated by therotation of the shaft to lift said carriage, and a brake with which saidbrake wheel is adapted: to engage to ,hold the said carriage and rammingapparatus in its upper elevated position.

5. In 'a machine of the class described, a supportingframe having spacedapart vertical endsia carriage mounted on and be tween said ends forvertical movements,

ramming apparatus carried by said carriage, ashaft located at the upperend of the main frame, means for continuously driving said shaft, a drumon said shaft, a second shaft mounted at the upper portion of themachine, a brake wheel on the second shaft, means connecting the secondshaft with the carriage whereby on rotation of the second shaftin onedirectionthe carriage and ramming apparatus will be elevated, a brakeagainst which the brake wheel normally bears, and manually operablemeans for shifting said second shaft so as to move the brake wheel awayfrom the brake and against said drum thereby driving said second shaftto elevate said carriage and ramming apparatus.

6. In a machine of the class described, a main frame having spaced apartvertical ends, a carriage mounted on and between said ends for verticalmovements,ramming apparatus mounted on said carriage, a continuouslydriven shaft mounted at the upper end of the main frame, a drum on saidshaft, :1 second shaft mounted at the upper end of the frame, a brakewheel on the second shaft normally located in close proximity to but ashort distance from said drum, a brake against which the brake wheelnormally bears, a sprocket wheel on the second shaft, a rack connectedwith the carriage and engaging with said sprocket Wheel,

means for mounting one end of said second shaft whereby it may beshifted toward the continuously moving shaft to disengage the brakewheels from the brake and engage it against said drum, and meansformanually operating said last mentioned means to cause said shifting ofthe second shaft toward the continuously moving shaft.

-7. In a machine of the class described, a main supporting frame havingspaced apart vertical ends, a carriage mounted on and betweensaid endsof the frame for vertical movements, ramming apparatus mounted on thecarriage, a continuously driven shaft mounted at the upper end of theframe, a drum on said shaft, a second shaft substantially parallelingthe first shaft also mounted at the upper end of the frame, a b'rakewheel on the second shaft located in close proximity to but normallydisengaged from the drum, connections between the second shaft andcarriage whereby on rotation of the second shaft in one direction thecarriage will be elevated, a rotatably mounted sleeve through which oneend of the second shaft passes with the axis of said shaft located toone side of the axis of the sleeve whereby rotation of the sleeve in onedirection will shift the second shaft toward the continuously drivenshaft and bring said brake wheel into engagement with said drum,manually operable means connected to said sleeve for rotating the sameto cause said shifting of the second shaft toward the continuouslydriven shaft, and a spring connected with said sleeve normally tendingto rotate the same in the opposite direction so as to maintain the brakewheel against said brake.

8. In a construction of the vclass described, a main supporting framehaving spaced apart vertical ends, a carriage mounted on,

and between said ends of the frame, ramming apparatus mounted on saidcarriage, means for elevating said carriage to an upper position,manually operable means for causing the operation of said elevatingmeans, means for retaining and holding the carriage in any position towhich it may be lifted upon release of said manually operable means, andmeans for rendering said carriage lifting means inoperative upon attainment by the carriage of a predetermined upper position.

9. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame having spacedapart vertical ends, a carriage mounted on and be tween said ends of theframe for vertical movements, ramming apparatus carried by saidcarriage, means for operating said ram ming apparatus, means forelevating the carriage and ramming apparatus to an upper position, meansfor manually causing the operation of the said elevating means toelevate the carriage, means for holding the carriage to any position towhich it may be elevated upon release of said manually operable means,and means for automatically stopping the operation of the rammingapparatus upon elevation of the carriage with said ramming apparatus toa predetermined upper position.

10. In a machine of the class described, a main supporting frame havingspaced apart vertical ends, a carriage disposed between and mounted onsaid ends of the main frame for vertical movements, a shaft mounted onsaid carriage, means for driving the shaft, a plurality of eccentrics onsaid shaft, a plurality of ramming members mounted on said carriage forvertical movements, one below each eccentric, springs normally liftingthe ramming elements so as to force the upper ends thereof against theeccentrics, means for elevating said carriage with its attached rammingapparatus to an upper position, and means operated by the movement ofsaid carriage to upper position for engaging said ramming members andmoving the same downwardly and holding them in positions such that theupper ends of the ramming members will be below the paths of movementsof said eccentri s and out of engagement therewith.

11. In a machine of the class described, a main supporting frame havingspaced apart vertical ends, a carriage mounted on and between said endsfor vertical movements, a shaft horizontally mounted on the carriage, aplurality of ramming members slidably mounted on and passing through thelower part of the carriage, said members being mounted for verticalmovement, a plurality of eccentrics on the shaft, one for each rammingmember, a head at the upper end of each" ramming member, a strong coiledspring disposed between each head and the adjacent lower portion of saidcarriage whereby said heads normally bear against the eccentrics, barslocated horizontally below the lower side of the carriage, one at eachside of the ramming members, springs holding said bars against thecarriage, cams on the carriage and rollers on said bars whereby onlengthwise movement of said bars in one direction the same will be moveddownwardly and engage with the ramming elements to move the same in adownward direction, means for elevating the carriage and attachedramming apparatus and means mounted on said bars and engaging with meanson said main frame on elevation of the carriage to a predetermined upperposition to cause said bars to move lengthwise and engage with and holdthe ramming elements out of operative engagement with their respectiveeccentrics, substantially as described.

19.. In a machine of the class described, a main supporting frame havingspaced apart ends, a carriage mounted on and between said ends of theframe for vertical movement, ramming apparatus including a plurality ofvertically movable ramming members mounted on said carriage, a formadapted to receive cementitious material located between the sides ofthe frame below said ramming apparatus, said ramming members at theirlower ends being designed to enter said form, a hopper member mountedfor horizontal movement at the upper side of the form and having anentrance hopper through which the ramming members may pass into theform, a plate back of the form over which said hopper moves when thesame is drawn back thereover and a second plate pivotally mounted onsaid hopper member in front of said hopper which comes directly over thecementitious material held in said form when the hopper member is drawnbackwardly, substantially as described.

13. In a. machine of the class described, a. supporting frame havingvertical spaced apart ends, a carriage on and between said ends forvertical movement-s, ramming apparatus mounted on the carriage includinga plurality of vertically reciprocable ramming members, means foroperating said ramming members, a form for receiving cementitiousmaterial located between the ends of said frame and underneath theramming ap'pa ratus, the lower ends of said ramming members entering theform and ramming the cementitious material therein, a hopper membermovably mounted at the upper side of the form, means for moving the samefrom front to rear position and vice versa, and a plate pivotallymounted on said hopper member at the front end thereof, said platecoming directly over the cementitious material held in the form when thehopper member is moved to its rear position, the

plate being in position to be forced against the cementitious materialby the ramming apparatus and thereby smooth the upper surface of thesame on operation of the ram- 5 ming members against said plate.

14. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 13, combined with spring means acting on said plate to normallytilt the same to an inclined position whereby it extends at an angle tothe 10 horizontal, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HARRY E. DUNN.

